Improvement in spring-motors



R. RH ETT.

SPRING-MOTOR.

No.175.501. Patented March 28,1876.

- I- IG I PETERS, FHOTO-LITHQGRAFHER, WASHINGTON n C UNITED STATESPATENT FFIC'E.

ROLAND BHETT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING-MOTORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [75,501, dated March28, 1876; application filed January 3, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROLAND Rnn'rr, of the city of Baltimore and State ofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVolute-Spring Motors, of which the following is a specification; and Ido hereby declare that in the same is contained a full, clear, and exactdescription of my said invention, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to a volute-sprin g motor, the distinguishingfeatures of which consist in that the outer end of the spring exerts avariable-tension or strain upon the part of the moving mechanism towhich it is directly attached, and in which the winding-stem is arrangedin such manner with reference to the spring and contrivances connectingit therewith as to admit of its being revolved by a key or equivalentdevice to coil or compress the spring while the same is uncoiling andperforming useful work.

In the further description of my invention. which follows due referencemust be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of 'thisspecification, and in Which- Figure l is a side view of a volute-springmotor embodying my improvements, and Fig. 2 an edge view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in bothfigures.

A is an ordinary volute spring, the inner end of which is attached to ashaft, a. The shaft or is stationary except in the operation of windingor compressing the spring through the medium of a counter-shaft orwindingstem, 1), and a series of gear-wheels. connect ing thewinding-stem with the shaft a. The outer end of the spring A is attachedloosely to a cage, B, within which the spring is confined, theattachment being such as to admit of a radial movement of the outer endof the spring in the coiling and uncoiling of the same. for purposeshereinafter described. Thecage B is rigidly connected to the mainspurwheel 0, w ich revolves upon and independently of the shaft a, andfrom which movement is transmitted by means of gearing or belts, &c., tothe driving-pulley D. A suitable frame, E, is provided as support forthe above-described mechanism, and shown in the drawing as adapting themotor specially for attachment to sewing-machines. The motor is,however, applicable to all purposes for' which spring-motors are usuallyemployed by merely modifying the character of the frame and other minorparts. The spring A is coiled or compressed by revolving the sh aft athrough the medium of the winding-stem -b and gearing before alluded.to, the outer end of the spring moving toward the center of the shaft a.By this arrangement the spring, when wound or compressed, and in acondition to revolve the pulley D at its maximum velocity, operates tomove the cage B from a point near to the shaft a, upon which it iswound. As the spring unwinds the radial distance of the outer endthereof from the shaft a is gradually increased, and the effectiveleverage of the spring augmented, thus compensating for its reducedelastic force.

It will be understood that the relative proportion of the various partsof the invention. are designed to be such as to cause a nearlyuniformmovement of the pulley D. All ordinary brake is used to govern the speedof the pulley D.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1.. The shaft (1, spring A, cage B, and Windingwheel, combined with thewinding-shaft b, windingpinion, and ratchet mechanism, substantially asspecified.

2. The spring A, the outer end of which has a free radial movement, asdescribed, its inner end being secured to the coiling-shaft a, combinedin a suitable frame with said shaft a, cage B, and"power-transmittingwheel (J, substantially as herein specified.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day ofDecember, in the year of our Lord 1875. I

ROLAND RHETT. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN WALLIS, J No. '1. MADDOX.

